Is adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet a risk factor for disordered eating and nutritional deficiencies?

This PhD will determine whether there is nutritional inadequacy and eating psychopathology amongst individuals who adhere to the EAT-LDP across the lifespan.

Research questions:
Is there an association between adherence to a plant-based diet and nutritional inadequacies (vitamin B12, iron, calcium) across the lifespan?
Is there an association between a plant-based diet and the development of disordered eating psychopathology?
Can sustainable diets be better optimised to support mental health and nutritional deficiency?

Hypotheses:
Using the National Diet and Nutritional Survey, we expect that the level of adherence to a plant-based diet will be associated with a lower intake of key nutrients including vitamin B12 and iron.
Using the ALSPAC dataset we expect that adherence to a plant-based diet during adolescence will be associated with later restrictive eating patterns and the development of disordered eating.
Using non-linear programming, we expect that individuals with autism, low socioeconomic status, adverse childhood events and food insecurity will be associated with nutritional deficiency and greater mental health difficulties when consuming a sustainable diet.